Ruthless United send another big warning
LONDON: Romelu Lukaku was on target again as the rutless Manchester United continued their fine early-season form with a second successive 4-0 win on Saturday, this time at Swansea City.
Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and substitute Anthony Martial also found the net at the Liberty Stadium, giving Jose Mourinho’s side their second big win after last weekend’s 4-0 victory over West Ham United.
Sadio Mane struck in the 73rd minute to give Liverpool a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace and get Jurgen Klopp’s side up and running after their 3-3 draw at Watford.
“The team was confident from the first minute,” said Mourinho after a result that means United have scored four goals in their first two league games for the first time in 110 years. “I like to see the confidence that the players are having in this moment.
There’s no panic. The team was always confident and always trying to move the ball. I’m really happy.”
Having had to work hard to break Swansea down, United went in front just before half-time when Bailly stabbed in his first goal for the club after Lukasz Fabianski had pushed Pogba’s header against the bar.
Attacking changes left Swansea vulnerable at the back in the latter stages and United took full advantage to score three goals in the space of just four minutes.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan teed up Lukaku for his fourth goal in three United games in the 80th minute and then freed Pogba to beat Fabianski with a delightful dinked finish before Martial tucked in a fourth.
At Anfield, Liverpool manager Klopp made five changes to the team that won 2-1 at Hoffenheim in their Champions League play-off round first leg in mid-week.
Beaten 3-0 at home by Huddersfield Town on the opening weekend, Palace produced a much more solid display, but were undone with 17 minutes to play when Mane seized upon a loose ball to fire home.
Arsenal visit Stoke City in the late game.
Narrowly beaten 4-3 by Arsenal in the season’s opening match, 2016 champions Leicester City hit back to beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.